Allergen labelling changes, here’s a guide to what you need to know…

From the 1st October 2021 food labelling requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) will be introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Currently allergen information can be provided by any means the vendor chooses, including verbally. The introduction of the new legislation has come about after the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse following an allergic reaction to a pre-packaged sandwich that contained an undisclosed ingredient – sesame seeds. The purpose of the new requirements is to help protect people with food allergies as a full list of ingredients will need to be clearly displayed on PPDS items. PPDS food offered in schools, care homes and hospitals will require labelling.

What is PPDS food?

Prepacked for direct sale is any food that is packaged on the site at which it is provided or sold. It also includes food that is already packaged prior to it being ordered or selected and food that a consumer can pick themselves from a display unit.

Here are some examples of PPDS food:

• Sandwiches and bakery products which are packed on site before the consumer picks or orders them

• Fast food packed before it is ordered e.g., a burger under a hot lamp (where the food cannot be altered without opening the packaging)

• Foods that are pre-packaged on site ready for consumption e.g., pizzas, rotisserie chicken, salads and pasta pots

• Foods packaged and then sold/provided to consumers elsewhere by the same organisation

Here are some examples of non-PPDS food:

• Non-packaged food

• Food packaged after it has been ordered by the consumer*

• Prepacked food supplied by one business to another as these items should already carry the full list of requirements such as the name of the food, all of the ingredients with the allergens highlighted.

*Allergen information must still be provided to the consumer but a label with the name, ingredients and highlighted allergens is not required.

We will be hosting a free webinar to our customers which will provide guidance on what the new legislation means for you. If you would like to attend this, please register your interest here. The date for this event will be confirmed in due course.